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Six of the best places for Sunday breakfast and brunch in Winchester

Discover six of the best venues in and around Winchester for Sunday brunch or breakfast and recommend your own favourite haunts in the comments below.

Winchester is the ideal place for a spot of Sunday brunch or a lazy breakfast.

Located on the western edge of the South Downs National Park, there are miles of footpaths radiating out of the city centre into the surrounding countryside.

And, if working up an appetite with a Sunday morning ramble isn’t your thing, you can follow up with a mooch round the shops, a wander through the city’s medieval streets or a stroll along the banks of the Itchen.

Thanks to the city centre’s regular Sunday events, including a bi-monthly farmer’s market, many of Winchester’s restaurants and cafes now open on Sunday mornings for breakfast and brunch.

Here are six of the best places to head to in Winchester for Sunday brunch or a hearty breakfast.

Six of the best Winchester Sunday breakfast and brunch spots

1. Corner House, North Walls

A short stroll from the High Street, the Corner House is on the corner – naturally – of Parchment Street and North Walls.

The decor in this spacious restaurant/cafe/bar is a mix of shabby chic furniture, rugs scattered on wooden floors and vintage knick knacks lining the window sills with a hint of north Africa.

The Corner House

Brunch options include everything from the classic full English to waffles, eggy bread, pan bakes and rarebit. The bar offers wines and local bottled ales.

Most ingredients are sourced locally, including watercress from nearby chalk streams on the “Eggs Alresford” dish.

Open from: 9am on Sundays (8am other days)

Address: 71 North Walls, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8DA

Phone: 01962 827779

2. Josie’s, Jewry Street

Owned by England rugby player Chris Robshaw and former Hants cricketer Kevin Latouf, Josie’s is an obvious place to refuel after some Sunday morning exercise.

A contrast to its cosier 17th century sister cafe of the same name in nearby Bishop’s Waltham, the Winchester cafe is light, airy and modern.

As well as an excellent selection of coffee and freshly squeezed juice, the breakfast and brunch menu includes all the classics as well as dishes like breakfast tacos and bubble and squeak cakes.

Pancakes at Josie’s

However, it’s the hefty pancakes that take centre stage at Josie’s – choose from a range of toppings like maple syrup and bacon, fried egg or fruit compote.

Open from: 9am on Sundays (7/8am other days)

Address: 28 Jewry Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8RY

Phone: 01962 865215

3. Forte Kitchen, Parchment Street

Forte Kitchen was the first Winchester eatery I stepped foot in, back in the 2000s in its former guise as a tearoom.

Now a sleek but unpretentious cafe/restaurant, you’ll find it tucked away on the first floor of a building, not far from the bustling High Street.

Forte Kitchen

You can’t go far wrong here if you like your eggs, with everything from eggs on toast to baked egg on the menu. There are also options like Scotch pancakes, granola with yoghurt and the usual traditional and vegetarian cooked breakfasts.

4. Rawberry, St George’s Street

While most of Winchester’s cafes and restaurants offer vegetarian options, few serve exclusively plant-based fare.

One of these is Rawberry, formerly of the Brooks Shopping Centre but now at the head of a row of interesting independent food venues on the thoroughfare that is St George’s Street. This makes it an ideal spot for watching the city slowly come to life of a morning.

Brunch at Rawberry

Rawberry is primarily a juice bar. But if a liquid breakfast won’t satisfy your pangs, there’s also options such as porridge, overnight oats, breakfast bakes, toasted sourdough and granola. All served in a modern and calming space.

Open from: 10am on Sundays (8.30/9am other days)

Address: 52-54 St George’s Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8AH

Phone: 01962 856840

5. Bean Below, Twyford

Bean Below sits under the village shop in Twyford, a couple of miles outside of Winchester. It’s near the “island” between the River Itchen and Itchen Navigation, so is an ideal base for exploring the footpaths that criss-cross the village’s ancient water meadows.

If you’re in need of an energy boost, the cafe supplements its hot drinks with a range of fruit smoothies and a protein shake.

Food wise, there’s standard breakfast and brunch fare such as croissants, breakfast baguettes, granola, smoked salmon with scrambled egg and the “Rise and Shine” full English.

Breakfast at Bean Below

As well as two cosy interconnected dining areas, the cafe also boasts a sheltered courtyard garden. The upstairs shop, which stocks everything from local craft beer to firewood, is also worth a visit.

6. Westgate, Romsey Road

Perched above one of Winchester’s remaining medieval gateways of the same name, the Westgate is a pub and hotel that opens early for breakfast.

The building dates from the second half of the 19th century when the Eldridge Pope brewery built a series of inns across the south to serve railway passengers. Recently refurbished, it’s tastefully decorated but includes lots of original features including “Westgate Hotel” window etchings.

Coffee at the Westgate

The breakfast menu is short yet varied with egg florentine, pancakes, avocado on toast and a breakfast buffet table available alongside traditional and vegetarian full English breakfasts.

Open from: 8am on Sundays (7am other days)

Address: 2 Romsey Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8TP

Phone: 01962 820222

Have you been to any of these venues for brunch or breakfast? Which is your favourite brunch/breakfast spot in Winchester?